BURNHAM'S Andy Holley and his son Paul, who also plays at St Pierre, turned the clock back by winning the West of England Winter Foursomes at Burnham and Berrow.

They first claimed the title 20 years ago and Andy also took won in1998 when he was partnered by Bob Lawrence.

They beat Andy Davies and Trevor Monk, two Burnham country members whose main club is Enville in the Midlands, 5 and 4 in the 36-hole final.

Burnham duo Troy Crandon and Welsh seniors' international and Somerset county player John Whitcutt lost to the Midlanders at the second extra hole in the semi final.

One surprise was the semi-final defeat of Gloucestershire county duo and favourites Tim Clink (Lilley Brook) and Nigel Thompson (Brickhampton Court) 4 and 2 by the eventual winners.

They found playing off one (Thompson, scratch, Clink, one) just too much of a burden.

As usual the premier open foursomes competition in the West attracted a full and varied entry from all over the region and even further afield. It is open to everyone professionals, amateurs, juniors, men and women.

Although the foursomes is often won by low handicappers because of the stiff nature of the classic links particularly in the height of winter the Holleys had the benefit of 22 shots (Andy 16, Paul 6).

The youngest pair to reach the last eight were Mendip's left-hander James Taylor and George Morgan. They eventually succumbed to Davies and Monk.

The last surviving professional was Simon Amor (Marlborough) who played with four-handicapper Neville Tait. They battled through to the fourth round before losing to Thompson and Clink on the second extra hole in a fine match.

Henbury's woman professional Susan Elliott should have been playing in the same round with her father Dave, the club's long-serving steward and her occasional caddy on the women's tour.

But she had to undergo surgery to remedy an old problem with her feet. As she was not able to play for six weeks, the Elliotts reluctantly scratched. This gave a walkover to their club colleagues Julian Church and Rhys Hughes.

Ironically the Elliotts went through on a walk-over themselves when Lansdown pair Steve Harris, the former Chipping Sodbury professional now an amateur, and Ed Butler, the outstanding Gloucestershire county player, could not play in the third round.

Holders Duncan Whittaker (Bath) and Bradley Whittock (Saltford) were knocked out in the first round.

The Somerset county pair, who both play off one, lost to Gloucestershire's Mike Unwin and his Brickhampton Court colleague Mark Burroughs by one hole in a gripping match.

Then the Gloucestershire duo lost to home pair Andy Ashfold and Peter Amos.